Classic Phone – History of the Phone

It was Alexander Graham Bell who received the first patent in the United States for developing a telephone. Before that, the only form of nearly immediate communication was the telegraph. If you wanted to send a message you had to write it down, take it to the local telegraph office and have the telegraph operator tap it in. On the other end another telegraph operator transcribed the message and a courier often delivered it. Not a very fast process but it worked.

Soon after the telephone was developed the existing telegraph lines began to be used for telephone service. Telephone service didn’t begin without problems however, it was found by using the telegraph lines that cross talk readily occurred. People having a conversation regularly could hear other people’s conversations. This problem was tackled however when it was discovered the simple act of twisting the pair of phone wires around themselves diminished the problem. Hence, today we have twisted pair in use in virtually every home.

Classic Phone

A classic phone is a home telephone styled from a decade gone by. There was nothing too fancy about home phones around the 50’s through the 70’s. The home phone began as the phone you had to crank, ask the switch board operator to connect your call, and you’d share the line with neighbors. The Classic Phone is available today in 3 primary styles, The Classic payphone, The Classic wall phone, and the Classic kettle desk phone.

 

Classic Kettle Phone

Classic Kettle Desk Phone

Around in the 40’s and 50’s, the Classic Kettle Desk Phone, seen in a lot of old movies, was a staple on the desks of many business people. It had a rich smooth lined look and feel and is a great appointment to any working desk. It was one of the first styles where the ear and mouth piece were in one unit.

 

Classic Pay Phone

Classic Pay Phone

Before cell phones came along if you needed to make a telephone call when you were out running errands or in-between business meetings you had to use the pay telephone. Pay telephones were everywhere. Often times the phone was built into a telephone booth or it was regularly attached to the wall in a shop of businesses. Classic pay phones were great when you needed to make a phone call but frustrating is someone was hogging up the line or you ran out of change.

 

Classic Wall Phone

Classic Wall Phone

Usually found hanging on the wall close to the kitchen in the 70’s and early 80’s this style phone became the staple in countless homes. It first started out with the rotary dial and then advanced to the push button number pad. And, the cords grew longer so when you needed some privacy you could slip around a corner in the home to get away from anyone who wanted overhear what you had to say.

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